Repowering the 120-ton switcher involved replacing one 1,000-horsepower engine with two 700-horsepower engines, effectively boosting the locomotive's power capacity to 1,400 horsepower, port officials said in a prepared statement. The repowered unit will reduce particulate matter emissions by 65 percent, hydrocarbon emissions by 54 percent and nitrous oxide emissions by 49 percent, they said.
The Pollution Prevention Partnership, a community outreach initiative at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, worked with the port to perform emissions testing on the locomotive before and after the repowering work, which was completed by R.J. Corman Railpower.
The project was financed by a $1 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant and 25 percent matching funds from the Port Authority of Corpus Christi.
"Environmental sustainability is part of our daily operations," said John LaRue, the port's executive director. "The implementation of new technology to reduce emissions provides the support the port needs for sustainable business growth."
The port is served by BNSF Railway Co., Kansas City Southern and Union Pacific Railroad.
Keywords
Browse articles on Port of Corpus Christi on Progressive Railroading
More articles
- Rail Yard Studios finds new uses for old railroad materials
- Top executives at CSX rely on teamwork to spur business growth, enhance service performance
- Quarterly container volume best in a year; transportation, logistics M&A activity robust
- Rail car market: The outlook for rail cars and rail traffic remains uncertain — by Toby Kolstad
- The C-suite life at CSX; Patriot Rail's John Fenton: a leader to watch (Context, September 2012)
- Profile: John Fenton, Patriot Rail
- MARTA reminds passengers to ride the rails with courtesy
- Today's power conversion products need to meet railroads' reliability, adaptability and durability demands, suppliers say
- Amtrak aims to bolster its aging infrastructure to accommodate mounting ridership despite funding limitations, says Boardman
- Caltrain electrification project ready to roll
- AREMA conference attendees hear reports on safety, financial and technical trends
- Recognition, reflection on the menu at League of Railway Industry Women's annual luncheon
- Transit agencies, passenger railroads pursue eco-friendly techniques
- Railroads gear up to protect computers from hackers
